Help Youth Cope with Alcoholic Parents

Alcoholism is a worldwide issue causing problems not only for the drinker but for everyone else connected with that person as well.

There are more than 18 million alcoholics in the United States and Canada alone, many of them with children troubled by their parents’ drinking. Often, these young people have nowhere to turn for help.

This is where Alateen comes in. Alateen is a fellowship of young relatives and friends of alcoholics who come together to discuss their difficulties, encourage one another and learn how to cope with their problems. These young people are often introduced to Alateen by concerned friends, neighbors, school counselors and clergy – with a meeting held nearby.

Alateen is part of the Al-Anon Family Groups (AFG) which helps those whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. Alateen members learn that compulsive drinking is a disease, an incurable illness which they did not cause, cannot cure nor control.

One of the most important lessons Alateen teaches is how to detach oneself emotionally from the drinker’s problems while continuing to love the person.